Senate Approves Budget

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate has given final approval to a $14 billion budget for the next fiscal year that starts July 1.

Thursday’s 24-16 vote sends the measure to the House, which approved its own budget bill Wednesday. Negotiators from the two chambers are expected to begin meeting next week to work out a final version.

Both bills generally follow spending recommendations laid out by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Each would spend some $6 billion in general state revenues and $8 billion from federal funds and other sources.

Budget committee leaders hope to finish work on a reconciled spending bill before legislators take a one-month break starting in early April.